Sebastián Báez vs Dominic Thiem: Clash for the ATP 250 Kitzbühel Title
August 4, 2023 - 18:00
Sebastián Báez Aims for Third Career Title
Sebastián Báez, hailing from San Martin, triumphed in the Buenos Aires duel against Tomás Etcheverry, setting his sights on clinching the third title of his career. He will face local talent Dominic Thiem in the final of the Kitzbuhel ATP 250, held in Austria on clay courts.
Báez, currently ranked 72nd in the ATP ranking, will go head-to-head with Thiem (ranked 116th) at 8 in the morning. Tennis enthusiasts can catch the match on the Star+ platform.
These two players have a previous encounter in their records, with Báez holding the advantage with a 6-2, 6-7 (5), and 6-4 victory in a grueling three-hour battle during the quarterfinals of the Bastad Open in Sweden last year.
Báez’s Journey to the Final
Báez’s presence in another final is a testament to his remarkable performance in 2022, where he emerged as the champion in Estoril and reached the finals in Bastad and Santiago. He also had a strong start to the year, winning the title in Córdoba and climbing to the 30th spot in the rankings. However, his journey this season has been marked by inconsistency, with a record of 20 wins and 19 losses so far.
On the other hand, Thiem, a former world number 3 and the 2020 US Open champion, faced a setback due to a severe wrist injury that kept him away from the courts for an extended period. This final marks his return to the ATP stage since that year, with a record of 13 wins and 17 losses in 2023. It is worth noting that Thiem has previously won the Buenos Aires Open twice (in 2016 and 2018).
Báez Triumphs in Buenos Aires Duel
In the Buenos Aires duel on Friday, Báez, born in San Martín, showcased his exceptional skills to secure a hard-fought victory against Etcheverry, who hails from La Plata and was the top seed in the Austrian tournament. After two hours and 44 minutes of intense play, Báez emerged victorious with a score of 7-6 (5), 3-6, and 6-4.
Similarly, Thiem overcame Serbian player Laslo Djere (ranked 38th) in a thrilling three-set match, winning 6-7 (3), 7-5, and 7-6 (10). The Austrian, backed by his home crowd, saved five match points during the gripping encounter.
A Historic Tournament on Clay Courts
The Kitzbühel Open, offering a prize pool of 630,705 euros, marks the culmination of the European clay court tour. Since its inception in 1968, the tournament has witnessed seven Argentine champions: Guillermo Vilas in 1977, 1980, 1982, and 1983; Horacio de la Peña in 1990; Guillermo Coria in 2003; Gaston Gaudio in 2005; Agustín Calleri in 2006; Juan Monaco in 2007; and Juan Martin del Potro in 2008.
If Báez emerges victorious on Saturday, it will be the fourth Argentine title in the men’s tennis season, following the triumphs of Francisco Cerúndolo in Eastbourne, Cachín in Gstaad, and Báez himself in Córdoba.